Method for using legacy Wi-Fi and Wi-Fi P2P simultaneously

ABSTRACT

A method for using legacy Wi-Fi and Wi-Fi Peer-to-Peer (P2P) simultaneously is provided. The method includes entering a device discovery process of Wi-Fi P2P, if use of a Wi-Fi P2P function is requested while using a legacy Wi-Fi function, acquiring a Group Owner (GO) right of Wi-Fi P2P in the device discovery process, performing a listen state over the same channel as a channel where the legacy Wi-Fi function is in use, through the acquisition of the GO right, and performing a search state over a social channel of Wi-Fi P2P, and repeating the listen state and the search state until the device discovery process is ended.

PRIORITY

This application is a continuation application of prior application Ser.No. 15/018,050, filed on Feb. 8, 2016, which is a continuationapplication of prior application Ser. No. 14/575,184, filed on Dec. 18,2014, which has issued as U.S. Pat. No. 9,258,768 on Feb. 9, 2016, whichis a continuation application of prior application Ser. No. 13/606,667,filed on Sep. 7, 2012, which has issued as U.S. Pat. No. 8,929,822 onJan. 6, 2015 and claimed the benefit under 35 U.S.C. § 119(a) of aKorean patent application filed in the Korean Intellectual PropertyOffice on Sep. 14, 2011 and assigned Serial No. 10-2011-0092509, theentire disclosure of each of which is hereby incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a method for ensuring performance ofWi-Fi. More particularly, the present invention relates to a method forminimizing degradation in performance of legacy Wi-Fi when a legacyWi-Fi function and a Wi-Fi Peer-to-Peer (P2P) function are usedsimultaneously.

2. Description of the Related Art

Wireless communication based on legacy Wi-Fi was developed to provideInternet access through Access Points (APs) and is thus unable toprovide direct communication among devices supporting a Wi-Fi function.Therefore, an advanced function called Wi-Fi P2P or Wi-Fi Direct hasbeen proposed in order to provide a direct communication function amongWi-Fi devices.

Wi-Fi P2P technology, proposed by the Wi-Fi Alliance, is compatible withthe legacy Wi-Fi, and allows devices supporting the Wi-Fi function toaccess each other for communication without need of an AP.

Although the inter-device direct communication function is similar tothe function provided in technology such as Bluetooth, the Wi-Fi P2Pfunction is rapidly replacing Bluetooth because Wi-Fi P2P has manyadvantages over Bluetooth in terms of coverage and data rate. Forexample, while Bluetooth 4.0, the latest Bluetooth standard, supports amaximum coverage of 100 m and a maximum data rate of 24 Mbps, Wi-FiDirect supports a maximum coverage of 200 m and a maximum data rate of300 Mbps.

Wireless communication based on the legacy Wi-Fi includes a schemecalled Ad-hoc mode, which supports direct connection. Actually, however,the Ad-hoc mode is rarely used due to its many disadvantages such assecurity vulnerabilities, increase in power consumption, andtransmission bandwidth limitation of 11 Mbps.

Because the Wi-Fi P2P function takes into account the compatibility withthe conventional Wi-Fi function or the legacy Wi-Fi function, a user mayattempt a Wi-Fi P2P connection while using the legacy Wi-Fi function.For example, the user may request execution of the Wi-Fi P2P functionfor the purpose of file sharing, while his or her mobile terminal isoperating in a legacy Wi-Fi station mode where it may be provided with acommunication function by being connected to a specific AP.

However, in the legacy Wi-Fi station mode, if the Wi-Fi P2P function isexecuted, performance of the legacy Wi-Fi may be degraded. Therefore,there is a need for a method capable of preventing performancedegradation of the legacy Wi-Fi during the execution of the Wi-Fi P2Pfunction while the legacy Wi-Fi is in use.

Since an understanding of the overall operation of the Wi-Fi P2P shouldprecede an understanding of the degradation in performance of the legacyWi-Fi, the cause of problems and a means for addressing the problemswill be presented based on the below-described details for implementingthe present invention.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Aspects of the present invention are to address at least theabove-mentioned problems and/or disadvantages and to provide at leastthe advantages described below. Accordingly, an aspect of the presentinvention is to provide a method for preventing degradation inperformance of legacy Wi-Fi during execution of a Wi-Fi Peer-to-Peer(P2P) function when a P2P device capable of supporting Wi-Fi P2Ptechnology is using legacy Wi-Fi (i.e., when the P2P device is connectedto a specific Access Point (AP) with a legacy Wi-Fi STA interface).

In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, a method forusing legacy Wi-Fi and Wi-Fi P2P simultaneously is provided. The methodincludes entering a device discovery process of Wi-Fi P2P, if use of aWi-Fi P2P function is requested while using a legacy Wi-Fi function,acquiring a Group Owner (GO) right of Wi-Fi P2P in the device discoveryprocess, performing a listen state over the same channel as a channelwhere the legacy Wi-Fi function is in use, through the acquisition ofthe GO right, and performing a search state over a social channel ofWi-Fi P2P, and repeating the listen state and the search state until thedevice discovery process is ended.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, a method forusing legacy Wi-Fi and Wi-Fi P2P simultaneously is provided. The methodincludes acquiring a GO right of Wi-Fi P2P, if an entry into a listenmode of Wi-Fi P2P is requested during execution of a legacy Wi-Fistation mode, and entering the listen mode over the same channel as achannel where the legacy Wi-Fi function is in use, through theacquisition of the GO right.

Other aspects, advantages, and salient features of the invention willbecome apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detaileddescription, which, taken in conjunction with the annexed drawings,discloses exemplary embodiments of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other aspects, features, and advantages of certainexemplary embodiments of the present invention will be more apparentfrom the following description taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a flowchart schematically illustrating a process of creating aPeer-to-Peer (P2P) group through execution of a Wi-Fi P2P functionaccording to the related art;

FIG. 2 illustrates a first degradation in performance of legacy Wi-Fiduring execution of a Wi-Fi P2P function in a legacy Wi-Fi station modeaccording to the related art;

FIG. 3 illustrates a second degradation in performance of legacy Wi-Fiduring execution of a Wi-Fi P2P function in a legacy Wi-Fi station modeaccording to the related art;

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a process of executing a Wi-Fi P2Pfunction in a legacy Wi-Fi station mode according to an exemplaryembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 illustrates a process of executing a Wi-Fi P2P function in alegacy Wi-Fi station mode according to an exemplary embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a process of executing a Wi-Fi P2Pfunction in a legacy Wi-Fi station mode according to an exemplaryembodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 7 illustrates a process of executing a Wi-Fi P2P function in alegacy Wi-Fi station mode according to an exemplary embodiment of thepresent invention.

Throughout the drawings, like reference numerals will be understood torefer to like parts, components, and structures.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

The following description with reference to the accompanying drawings isprovided to assist in a comprehensive understanding of exemplaryembodiments of the invention as defined by the claims and theirequivalents. It includes various specific details to assist in thatunderstanding but these are to be regarded as merely exemplary.Accordingly, those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize thatvarious changes and modifications of the embodiments described hereincan be made without departing from the scope and spirit of theinvention. In addition, descriptions of well-known functions andconstructions may be omitted for clarity and conciseness.

The terms and words used in the following description and claims are notlimited to the bibliographical meanings, but, are merely used by theinventor to enable a clear and consistent understanding of theinvention. Accordingly, it should be apparent to those skilled in theart that the following description of exemplary embodiments of thepresent invention is provided for illustration purpose only and not forthe purpose of limiting the invention as defined by the appended claimsand their equivalents.

It is to be understood that the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the”include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.Thus, for example, reference to “a component surface” includes referenceto one or more of such surfaces.

A Wi-Fi Peer-to-Peer (P2P) function is provided by devices (e.g., a P2Pdevice 1 and a P2P device 2) supporting the Wi-Fi P2P function bycreating a Wi-Fi P2P group.

Prior to a description of the problem that performance of a legacy Wi-Fistation mode is degraded when a Wi-Fi P2P function is enabled while thelegacy Wi-Fi station mode is in use, and of an exemplary method andapparatus to address the problem, a process of creating a P2P group willbe described below with reference to FIG. 1 which is a flowchartschematically illustrating a process of creating a P2P group throughexecution of a Wi-Fi P2P function according to the related art.

Creation (or formation) of a Wi-Fi P2P group may be achieved by threeprocesses: Device Discovery, Service Discovery, and Group Creation.These processes will be described below in order.

Device Discovery

A device discovery process is a procedure needed when Wi-Fi P2P devices(e.g., P2P devices 1 and 2) identify each other and configure aconnection in order to create a Wi-Fi P2P group with a function of Wi-FiP2P (or Wi-Fi Direct).

A Wi-Fi P2P device (e.g., P2P device 1 or P2P device 2 shown in FIG. 1),which has entered a device discovery mode as a result of a menuselection to use a Wi-Fi Direct function (or Wi-Fi P2P function) or as apredetermined application is executed, discovers surrounding Wi-Fi P2Pdevices by repeating Channel Scan, Listen and Search according to theInstitute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.11 standardat intervals of a predetermined time.

A basic operation of the device discovery procedure performed in theWi-Fi P2P group creation process is performed by exchange of ProbeRequest and Probe Response messages of an IEEE 802.11 Media AccessControl (MAC) protocol. Probe Request includes information such as P2P aInformation Element (IE), a Wi-Fi Simple Configuration (WSC) IE and aSupplemental Registration (Supp Reg) IE, and Probe Response includesinformation such as a P2P IE, a WSC IE, a Robust Secure Network (RSN) IEand a Supp Reg IE.

Service Discovery

Service discovery may be performed between the above-described devicediscovery process and a below-described group creation process. Theservice discovery process is performed to provide a function in whicheach P2P device supporting the Wi-Fi P2P function exchanges informationabout its available services by identifying its supportable serviceprotocols and services through exchange of request and responsemessages.

For example, assuming that the P2P device 1 is a camera and the P2Pdevice 2 is a printer, when a user of the P2P device 1 wants to printout a photo, the P2P device 1 may determine whether a photo outputfunction of the P2P device 2 is available, through the servicediscovery, because the P2P device 1 needs to determine whether the P2Pdevice 2 supports a photo output function.

For example, assuming that file sharing between the P2P device 1 and theP2P device 2 is requested through creation of a Wi-Fi P2P group, if theP2P device 1 uses a file sharing scheme based on Universal Plug and Play(UPNP) whereas the P2P device 2 uses a file sharing scheme based on WebService (WS), the service discovery process should be performed becausefile sharing between the two devices may not be achieved.

Group Creation

In Wi-Fi P2P, in order to create a Wi-Fi P2P group, P2P devices (e.g.,P2P device 1 and P2P device 2) perform Provision Discovery, which is oneof the important features defined in the specification of Wi-Fi Direct(or Wi-Fi P2P).

To use the Wi-Fi P2P function, P2P devices basically operate based onWSC, e.g., based on WPS. WSC support of a connection device is optionalin the legacy Wi-Fi standard, but mandatory in Wi-Fi Direct.

WSC, which is a function provided for more convenient wirelessconnection, includes a Push Button Configuration (PBC) scheme in which abutton should be pushed, and a Personal Identification Number (PIN)scheme in which a PIN number should be input. For both the PBC schemeand the PIN scheme, settings should be completed within 120 seconds,which results in an inconvenience. For example, in the case of the PBCscheme, a WSC Registration Protocol may start only when a WPS button isinput or pushed in the other party's device within 120 seconds after onedevice requested wireless connection using the PBC scheme. The devicesexchange Service Set Identify (SSID) and credentials (which is the totalsum of cryptographic information, and includes information such asauthentication type, encryption type, network key and ssid) needed forconnection.

A standard newly defined in Wi-Fi Direct to relieve these inconveniencesof the conventional WSC is the Provision Discovery scheme. In theProvision Discovery scheme, when a predetermined Wi-Fi P2P device (e.g.,P2P device 1) attempts a connection based on the conventional WSC (PBCscheme or PIN scheme) after discovering another Wi-Fi P2P device (e.g.,P2P device 2), the Wi-Fi P2P device informs another Wi-Fi P2P device'suser of its connection attempt by sending a WSC Configuration Methodmessage.

The WSC Configuration Method message is classified into different typessuch as PBC, PIN from Display, and PIN from Keypad. In PBC, anotherWi-Fi P2P device's user receives a button input, and PIN from Displayand PIN from Keypad may inform another Wi-Fi P2P device's user of theWi-Fi P2P connection attempt by an event where a pin number is displayedor input on another Wi-Fi P2P device.

If Provision Discovery is completed as users of the P2P device 1 and theP2P device 2 accept the Wi-Fi P2P connection, a Group Owner Negotiationprocess is performed between the Wi-Fi P2P devices. Since Wi-Fi P2Pneeds to determine or set a Group Owner (GO) that will play a centralrole in the created Wi-Fi P2P group, the Group Owner Negotiation processfor determining a Wi-Fi P2P device that will serve as GO, is needed foruse of the Wi-Fi P2P function.

The Group Owner Negotiation process is performed by exchange of GONegotiation Request, GO Negotiation Response, and GO Negotiation Confirmframes. GO Negotiation Request and GO Negotiation Response include P2PIE information and WSC IE information, respectively. A field of the P2PIE includes information such as P2P Capability, P2P Device Info, GroupOwner Intent, Configuration Timeout, Listen Channel, Extended ListenTiming, Intended P2P Interface Address, Channel List, and OperatingChannel attributes. A field of the WSC-IE includes information such asDEVICE PASSWORD ID, MANUFACTURER, MODEL NAME, MODEL NUMBER, SERIALNUMBER, and DEVICE NAME.

Each of the P2P device 1 and the P2P device 2 compares Group OwnerIntent included in the P2P IE. A device with greater Group Owner Intentis determined as GO, while a device with less Group Owner Intent isdetermined as a Group Client (GC). If the P2P device 1 and the P2Pdevice 2 are determined as GO and GC, respectively, after completion ofthe Group Owner Negotiation process, the device set as GO operates as aWSC registrar and the device set as GC operates as a WSC enrollee IfProvisioning for exchanging credentials is completed, a group setupprocess for forming a Wi-Fi P2P group is completed.

In the Group Owner Negotiation process, attributes of the P2P group arealso determined. The attributes of the P2P group are classified intoTemporary Groups and Persistent Groups. A Temporary Group corresponds toa P2P group formed to be used only once, and a Persistent Groupcorresponds to a P2P group formed to be used persistently.

If the created P2P group is set as a persistent group, P2P devices inthe P2P group store credentials and information about the roles (i.e.,GO or GC) of the P2P devices in the P2P group, and omit processes suchas Provision Discovery, Group Owner Negotiation and Provisioning uponrequest to form a P2P group in the future, thereby quickly forming theP2P group, contributing to the improvement of the connection speed. Forexample, if a device discovered in Device Discovery is a devicebelonging to a P2P group previously formed as a persistent group, adevice corresponding to GO may create a P2P group through exchange ofinformation (e.g., Invitation request/response) including informationabout the attributes of the P2P group, and a device corresponding to GCmay quickly access the P2P group based on the credentials storedtherein.

Thereafter, if the group creation process is completed, the GO devicemoves to an operating channel and starts its role as GO, and the GCdevice accesses the GO based on the credentials identified byProvisioning. Finally, the two P2P devices are connected to the Wi-FiP2P group.

Based on the details described in connection with the creation of aWi-Fi P2P group, the problem will be described below that performance oflegacy Wi-Fi is degraded when a Wi-Fi P2P function is executed while thelegacy Wi-Fi function is in use.

The degradation in performance of legacy Wi-Fi during execution of theWi-Fi P2P function in the legacy Wi-Fi station mode may occur in thedevice discovery process described in conjunction with FIG. 1. A firstdegradation in performance of legacy Wi-Fi during execution of a Wi-FiP2P function in a legacy Wi-Fi station mode will be described below withreference to FIG. 2.

FIG. 2 illustrates a first degradation in performance of legacy Wi-Fiduring execution of a Wi-Fi P2P function in a legacy Wi-Fi station modeaccording to the related art.

Referring to FIG. 2, it is assumed that a legacy Wi-Fi station mode isin progress over a Channel #10 (CH10) among the channels set up forWi-Fi communications. Upon request for execution of a Wi-Fi P2Pfunction, a P2P device enters a device discovery period where itdiscovers its surrounding P2P devices.

In the Wi-Fi P2P Specification, the device discovery process discoverssurrounding P2P devices by scanning all channels using a channel scanmethod (e.g., IEEE 802.11 scan mode, or IEEE 802.11 channel scan method)defined in the IEEE 802.11 standard.

If the IEEE 802.11 channel scan method is used, an Access Point (AP) oflegacy Wi-Fi (legacy Wi-Fi AP), a GO device of Wi-Fi P2P, and common P2Pdevices (i.e., P2P devices which are not set as GO or GC) whose rolesare not determined yet, may all be discovered.

If no P2P device requiring a connection is discovered even though theIEEE 802.11 channel scan method is used, the discovery of surroundingP2P devices is continued through a search state and a listen state. Inthe search state, a Probe Request message may be sent, and in the listenstate, a Probe Response to a Probe Request message received from anotherP2P device may be sent.

It is defined in the Wi-Fi P2P Direct Specification that these searchand listen states may be performed using only a Channel #1 (CH1), aChannel #6 (CH6) and a Channel #11 (CH11), which are called socialchannels, if the P2P device is not set as GO (i.e., has no GO rights).In other words, it is defined that if no P2P devices connected to aWi-Fi P2P group are set as GO or GC as the Group Owner Negotiationprocess described in conjunction with FIG. 1 is not performed, the P2Pdevice may perform the search and listen states only over the socialchannels.

Therefore, upon receiving a request for execution of a Wi-Fi P2Pfunction from a user while operating in a legacy Wi-Fi station modeusing CH10, the P2P device switches from CH10 to the social channelsCH1, CH6 and CH11 and performs the search and listen states, because ithas not yet determined whether to operate as GO or GC.

However, in some cases, discovery of surrounding P2P devices may not bequickly completed even by the IEEE 802.11 channel scan method and thesearch and listen states, causing excessive consumption of time in adevice discovery period where the social channels are used. As a result,it takes excessive time in switching back to CH10 and providing thelegacy Wi-Fi station mode's function, causing occurrence of thephenomenon where performance of the legacy Wi-Fi function is degraded inthe device discovery period.

Another example of degradation in performance of legacy Wi-Fi duringexecution of a Wi-Fi P2P function in a legacy Wi-Fi station mode will bedescribed below with reference to FIG. 3.

FIG. 3 illustrates a second degradation in performance of legacy Wi-Fiduring execution of a Wi-Fi P2P function in a legacy Wi-Fi station modeaccording to the related art.

Referring to FIG. 3, the device discovery process (Discovery Modes),which is performed to use the Wi-Fi P2P function, may include a listenmode. The listen mode, in which a P2P device waits for a Wi-Fi P2Pconnection from the other party's P2P device, is a function that isprovided by taking into account the situations in which, when a P2Pdevice 1 is a wireless printer and a P2P device 2 is a camera and isconnected by the Wi-Fi P2P function, the P2P device 1 waits for anoutput request from the P2P device 2.

The listen mode is performed by periodically maintaining the listenstate, and, if the listen state is periodically maintained over the CH10allocated for the legacy Wi-Fi station mode and another channel (shownas CH6 in FIG. 3), performance of the legacy Wi-Fi station mode may bedegraded in the period where the listen state is maintained. Forexample, if the listen state is repeatedly maintained using CH6 while astreaming image is played in the legacy Wi-Fi station mode using CH10,the streaming image may not be normally played during the maintenance ofthe listen state.

The Wi-Fi P2P Specification provides that the P2P device may use onlythe social channels CH1, CH6 and CH11 if it is not set as GO (or has noGO rights) even with the listen mode. The P2P device maintains thelisten state at stated periods as shown in FIG. 3 without continuouslymaintaining the listen mode, taking its power consumption intoconsideration.

Because an increase in the period to maintain the listen state maycontribute to an increase in the probability of a P2P device to bediscovered by another P2P device, but may cause an increase in the powerconsumption, the maintenance period of the listen state needs to beproperly set for its optimization. For example, it is provided in theWi-Fi P2P standard that a period to maintain the listen state is about10% of a sleep period. However, this period may be changed by themanufacturer of the P2P devices.

Exemplary embodiments of the present invention that address the problemsof the degradation in performance of legacy Wi-Fi, which have beendescribed so far with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3, will now be describedbelow.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a process of executing a Wi-Fi P2Pfunction in a legacy Wi-Fi station mode according to an exemplaryembodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 5 illustrates a process ofexecuting a Wi-Fi P2P function in a legacy Wi-Fi station mode accordingto an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The first exemplaryembodiment of the present invention corresponds to an embodiment capableof addressing the problem of the degradation in performance of thelegacy Wi-Fi during execution of the Wi-Fi P2P function in the legacyWi-Fi station mode according to the related art, which has beendescribed in conjunction with FIG. 2, and a description thereof will begiven below.

Referring to FIG. 4, in steps S401 to S403, while operating in a legacyWi-Fi station mode, if use of a Wi-Fi P2P function is requested, a P2Pdevice enters a device discovery process of Wi-Fi P2P.

While performing wireless data communication using the legacy Wi-Fifunction, a user of a specific P2P device may request data sharing witha user of another P2P device using the Wi-Fi P2P function. The userequest for the Wi-Fi P2P function may be a request made by execution ofa menu or an application by a user of a specific P2P device, or maycorrespond to a Wi-Fi P2P connection request from another P2P device.

If use of the Wi-Fi P2P function is requested while the legacy Wi-Fistation mode is in operation, the P2P device enters a device discoveryprocess related to P2P group creation of Wi-Fi P2P. After entering thedevice discovery process, the P2P device discovers its surrounding P2Pdevices by performing IEEE 802.11 channel scan.

In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the P2P device, adevice capable of creating a P2P group using the Wi-Fi P2P function,includes a communication module complying with the IEEE 802.11 standardfor Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN), and the communication module isassumed to have a standard of 802.11g or more (e.g., 802.11g or 802.11n)for certification of Wi-Fi Direct. Therefore, exemplary embodiments ofthe present invention are assumed to be realized by P2P devices thatinclude a communication module having a standard of 802.11g or more(e.g., 802.11g or 802.11n) and have undergone Wi-Fi Directcertification.

In steps S404 and S405, the P2P device acquires GO rights by enablingAutonomous GO mode, and performs a listen state over the same channel asthe channel in use in the legacy Wi-Fi station mode using the acquiredGO rights.

The Wi-Fi P2P (Wi-Fi Direct) Specification defines a mode in which a P2Pdevice may immediately acquire GO rights without the Group OwnerNegotiation process described in conjunction with FIG. 2. This mode iscalled Autonomous GO mode.

The Autonomous GO mode performs the listen state in which a P2P devicesets itself as GO and waits for a connection of another P2P device(i.e., GC in the created P2P group), such as when a P2P device shouldprovide an AP feature by continuously playing a role of GO.

As described in conjunction with FIG. 2, the Wi-Fi P2P Specificationprovides that in the absence of GO rights, the listen state should beperformed only over the social channels CH1, CH6 and CH11.

Therefore, in accordance with the above described exemplary embodimentof the present invention, if use of Wi-Fi P2P is requested in the legacyWi-Fi station mode, the P2P device acquires GO rights by enablingAutonomous GO mode on the same channel as the channel in use in thelegacy Wi-Fi station mode, thereby acquiring rights to select thechannel where it will perform the listen state. If GO rights areacquired through enabling of Autonomous GO mode, the P2P device isallowed to perform the listen state over the same channel as the channelin use in the legacy Wi-Fi station mode.

By enabling Autonomous GO mode over the same channel as that in thelegacy Wi-Fi station mode in this way, the P2P device may execute thelegacy Wi-Fi station mode while performing the listen state during theperiod of Autonomous GO mode. In other words, by enabling Autonomous GOmode over the same channel as that in the legacy Wi-Fi station mode, theP2P device may perform both transmission and reception-relatedoperations of the legacy Wi-Fi station mode, while sending a ProbeResponse message to a Probe request message from an external P2P device.The reason why this is possible is because the Wi-Fi standard is basedon competition, Autonomous GO mode and legacy Wi-Fi station mode mayoperate together on condition that they use the same channel.

Therefore, if Autonomous GO mode is enabled over the same channel asthat in the legacy Wi-Fi station mode, the legacy Wi-Fi station mode isoperable while the listen state based on Autonomous GO mode isperformed, making it possible to address the problems or Quality ofService (QoS) problems that the legacy Wi-Fi station mode isdisconnected, which may occur during execution of the Wi-Fi P2P functionin the legacy Wi-Fi station mode.

In steps S406 to S408, the P2P device performs the search state over thesocial channels CH1, CH6 and CH11 defined in the Wi-Fi P2PSpecification, repeats the search and listen states in a predeterminedperiod until the device discovery process is ended, and disablesAutonomous GO mode if the device discovery process is ended.

The search state is performed in substantially the same method asdescribed in connection with FIG. 2. This is to allow the abovedescribed exemplary embodiment of the present invention to operate inaccordance with the device discovery process defined by the Wi-Fi P2PSpecification, thereby maintaining compatibility. Therefore, in theabove described exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the P2Pdevice performs the search state over the social channels CH1, CH6 andCH11. The period of the periodic search state is assumed to have a timeperiod of 100 to 300 ms defined in the Wi-Fi P2P Specification.

Steps S401 to S408 will be described once again with reference to FIG.5. Upon request to use the Wi-Fi P2P function, the P2P device, which wasperforming the legacy Wi-Fi station mode over CH10, discovers itssurrounding P2P devices using the IEEE 802.11 scan method.

Thereafter, the P2P device determines the channel in use by the legacyWi-Fi station mode while maintaining the legacy Wi-Fi station mode, fora predetermined time, enables Autonomous GO mode over the same channel(i.e., CH10) as the channel in use by the legacy Wi-Fi station mode, andperforms the listen state during a period of Autonomous GO mode.

As shown in FIG. 5, from the timing ‘Autonomous GO mode enable’ on,where Autonomous GO mode is enabled, the listen state needed for DeviceDiscovery of Wi-Fi P2P and the legacy Wi-Fi station mode may beperformed simultaneously. Thereafter, the P2P device alternatelyperforms the search state based on the social channels CH1, CH6 andCH11, and the Autonomous GO mode based on the CH10, until the devicediscovery process is ended.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a process of executing a Wi-Fi P2Pfunction in a legacy Wi-Fi station mode according to an exemplaryembodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 7 illustrates a process ofexecuting a Wi-Fi P2P function in a legacy Wi-Fi station mode accordingto an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The below describedexemplary embodiment of the present invention corresponds to anembodiment capable of addressing the problem of the degradation inperformance of legacy Wi-Fi during execution of the Wi-Fi P2P functionin the legacy Wi-Fi station mode according to the related art, which hasbeen described in conjunction with FIG. 3, and a description thereofwill be given below.

Referring to FIG. 6, in steps S601 to S603, if an entry into the listenmode of Wi-Fi P2P is requested while the legacy Wi-Fi station mode isexecuted, a P2P device enters the listen mode by enabling Autonomous GOmode over the same channel as that in use by the legacy Wi-Fi stationmode.

This exemplary embodiment of the present invention addresses the problemof the degradation in performance of legacy Wi-Fi during enabling of thelisten mode in the legacy Wi-Fi station mode, which has been describedin conjunction with FIG. 3. As described in conjunction with FIG. 3, theWi-Fi P2P Specification provides that if the P2P device is not set asGO, even the listen mode should use the social channels CH1, CH6 and CH11. Hence, the performance of legacy Wi-Fi may be degraded when thechannels in use by the legacy Wi-Fi station mode are different from thechannels in use by the listen mode.

Therefore, this exemplary embodiment provides a method of entering thelisten mode by enabling Autonomous GO mode of the P2P device in the samechannel as that in use by the legacy Wi-Fi station mode, in entering thelisten mode while the legacy Wi-Fi station mode is in use.

In accordance with this exemplary embodiment, the P2P device may copewith a Wi-Fi P2P connection request from another P2P device, whilecontinuously performing data Transmission and Reception (TX/RX) of thelegacy Wi-Fi station mode.

This exemplary embodiment will be described once again with reference toFIG. 7. If an entry into the listen mode is requested while the legacyWi-Fi station mode is performed over CH10, the P2P device enters thelisten mode by enabling Autonomous GO mode over the same CH10.

As described above, because GO rights are acquired if Autonomous GO modeis enabled, the P2P device may switch an operating channel of the listenmode. Thus, the P2P device may control the listen mode to be operated onthe CH10.

Therefore, in the state where Autonomous GO mode is enabled (i.e., thelisten mode is in progress in the same channel as that in the legacyWi-Fi station mode), the legacy Wi-Fi station mode and the listen modemay operate together due to the competition-based Wi-Fi standard, makingit possible to address the problems of the related art in which thelegacy Wi-Fi station mode is degraded in performance or interrupted uponentry into the listen mode.

In this exemplary embodiment, if the period where Autonomous GO mode isenabled (i.e., the period where the listen mode is in progress in thesame channel as that in the legacy Wi-Fi station mode) is very long orlasts for a long time, connectivity with another P2P device may improveadvantageously, but the power consumption may increasedisadvantageously.

Therefore, in this exemplary embodiment, the listen mode may be repeatedin a predetermined sleep period, which uses an Opportunistic Power Savemethod proposed in the Wi-Fi P2P Specification. The Opportunistic PowerSave method, which is a power management mechanism proposed by the Wi-FiP2P Specification, is a method in which, when a P2P group is created bythe Wi-Fi P2P function, the P2P device corresponding to GO in thecreated P2P group enters a sleep mode if there is no data trafficbetween GO and GC.

In other words, in this exemplary embodiment, the listen mode may ensurea connection with another P2P device by releasing the sleep mode (orpower-saving mode) in a period set as Client Traffic Window (CTWindow)in the period set for the sleep mode, even though the P2P device is inthe sleep mode based on the Opportunistic Power Save function. A periodof CTWindow may be less than a Target Beacon Transmission Time (TBTT),which is an interval where a beacon is transmitted, and greater than orequal to a minimum of 10 TU (about 10 ms), or may be about a half of theTBTT period.

As is apparent from the foregoing description, exemplary embodiments ofthe present invention have a primary effect of addressing the problemthat performance of legacy Wi-Fi is degraded if the Wi-Fi P2P functionis used while the legacy Wi-Fi function is in use.

By the primary effect of exemplary embodiments of the present invention,a secondary effect may be expected that can relieve the inconveniencesthat the P2P device should selectively use only the Wi-Fi P2P functionafter stopping the legacy Wi-Fi function, due to the problem thatperformance of legacy Wi-Fi is degraded if the Wi-Fi P2P function isused while the legacy Wi-Fi function is in use.

While the invention has been shown and described with reference tocertain exemplary embodiments thereof, it will be understood by thoseskilled in the art that various changes in form and details may be madetherein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention asdefined by the appended claims and their equivalents.

What is claimed is:
 1. An electronic device for connecting with a Wi-Finetwork, the electronic device comprising: a communication circuitry;and at least one processor configured to: establish a legacy Wi-Ficonnection via the communication circuitry, receive a request for aWi-Fi peer-to-peer (P2P) connection during the legacy Wi-Fi connection,identify a channel used for the legacy Wi-Fi connection, in response tothe request for the Wi-Fi P2P connection during the legacy Wi-Ficonnection, obtain a Group Owner (GO) right of Wi-Fi P2P, in response tothe request for the Wi-Fi P2P connection during the legacy Wi-Ficonnection, and after the obtaining of the GO right during the legacyWi-Fi connection, perform a listen state on the channel identified asbeing used for the legacy Wi-Fi connection and perform a search state ona social channel of Wi-Fi P2P, wherein the performance of the listenstate and the performance of the search state are repeated until theWi-Fi P2P connection is established, while the GO right is maintainedduring the legacy Wi-Fi connection.
 2. The electronic device of claim 1,wherein the at least one processor is further configured to enable anautonomous GO mode in a same channel as the channel used for the legacyWi-Fi connection.
 3. The electronic device of claim 2, wherein the atleast one processor is further configured to disable the autonomous GOmode if the device discovery process is ended.
 4. The electronic deviceof claim 1, wherein the channel used for the legacy Wi-Fi connection isone channel among any of non-social channels and the social channels. 5.The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the social channel includes atleast one of a channel #1, a channel #6, or a channel #11.
 6. Theelectronic device of claim 1, wherein the at least one processor isfurther configured to enter the device discovery process based on atleast one of a menu selection or an execution of a predeterminedapplication.
 7. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the at leastone processor is further configured to establish the Wi-Fi P2Pconnection during the legacy Wi-Fi connection.
 8. The electronic deviceof claim 1, wherein the identifying of the channel used for the legacyWi-Fi connection and the obtaining of the GO right of Wi-Fi P2P areperformed at the same time.
 9. The electronic device of claim 1, whereinthe identifying of the channel used for the legacy Wi-Fi connection isperformed before the obtaining of the GO right of Wi-Fi P2P.
 10. Anelectronic device for connecting with a Wi-Fi network, the electronicdevice comprising: a communication circuitry; and at least one processorconfigured to: enter a legacy Wi-Fi station mode via the communicationcircuitry, receive a request for a Wi-Fi peer-to-peer (P2P) connectionduring the legacy Wi-Fi station mode, identify a channel used for thelegacy Wi-Fi station mode, in response to the request for the Wi-Fi P2Pconnection during the legacy Wi-Fi station mode, obtain a Group Owner(GO) right of Wi-Fi P2P, in response to the request for the Wi-Fi P2Pconnection during the legacy Wi-Fi station mode, and after the obtainingof the GO right during the legacy Wi-Fi station mode, enter a listenmode on the channel identified as being used for the legacy Wi-Fistation mode, wherein a listen state is performed without performing asearch state in the listen mode, and wherein the performance of thelisten state is repeated until the Wi-Fi P2P connection is established,while the GO right is maintained during the legacy Wi-Fi station mode.11. The electronic device of claim 10, wherein the GO right of Wi-Fi P2Pis obtained as an autonomous GO mode in a same channel used for thelegacy Wi-Fi station mode.
 12. The electronic device of claim 10,wherein the at least one processor is further configured to performwireless data communication using the Wi-Fi P2P connection duringexecution of the legacy Wi-Fi station mode.
 13. The electronic device ofclaim 10, wherein the at least one processor is further configured toreceive the request from at least one of a user or another electronicdevice.
 14. The electronic device of claim 10, wherein the requestcomprises at least one of a P2P Information Element (IE), a Wi-Fi simpleConfiguration (WSC) IE, or a Supplemental Registration (Supp Reg) IE.15. An electronic device for connecting with Wi-Fi network, theelectronic device comprising: a communication circuitry; and at leastone processor configured to: enter a legacy Wi-Fi station mode via thecommunication circuitry, receive a request for a Wi-Fi peer-to-peer(P2P) connection during the legacy Wi-Fi station mode, identify achannel used for the legacy Wi-Fi station mode, in response to therequest for the Wi-Fi P2P connection during the legacy Wi-Fi stationmode, obtain a Group Owner (GO) right of Wi-Fi P2P, in response to therequest for the Wi-Fi P2P connection during the legacy Wi-Fi stationmode, and after the obtaining of the GO right during the legacy Wi-Fistation mode, enter a listen mode on the channel identified as beingused for the legacy Wi-Fi station mode, wherein a first period forperforming a listen state and a second period for a sleep mode arerepeatedly provided in the listen mode, and wherein the performance ofthe listen state and the performance of the sleep mode are repeateduntil the Wi-Fi P2P connection is established, while the GO right ismaintained during the legacy Wi-Fi station mode.
 16. The electronicdevice of claim 15, wherein the sleep mode is using an opportunisticpower save method.
 17. The electronic device of claim 15, wherein thesleep mode is performed stopping the listen state.
 18. The electronicdevice of claim 15, wherein the second period is set as a Client TrafficWindow (CTWindow) in a period set for the sleep mode.
 19. The electronicdevice of claim 15, wherein the second period corresponds to a periodwhich is about a half of a Target Beacon Transmission Time (TBTT)period.
 20. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storinginstructions which, when executed by at least one processor of anelectronic device, cause the at least one processor to performoperations comprising: establishing, by the electronic device, a legacyWi-Fi connection; receiving, by the electronic device, a request for aWi-Fi peer-to-peer (P2P) connection during the legacy Wi-Fi connection;identifying, by the electronic device, a channel used for the legacyWi-Fi connection, in response to the request for the Wi-Fi P2Pconnection during the legacy Wi-Fi connection; obtaining, by theelectronic device, a Group Owner (GO) right of Wi-Fi P2P, in response tothe request for the Wi-Fi P2P connection during the legacy Wi-Ficonnection; and after the obtaining of the GO right during the legacyWi-Fi connection, performing, by the electronic device, a listen stateon the channel identified as being used for the legacy Wi-Fi connectionand performing, by the electronic device, a search state on a socialchannel of Wi-Fi P2P, wherein the performing of the listen state and theperforming of the search state are repeated until the Wi-Fi P2Pconnection is established, while the GO right is maintained during thelegacy Wi-Fi connection.
 21. A non-transitory computer-readable mediumstoring instructions which, when executed by at least one processor ofan electronic device, cause the at least one processor to performoperations comprising: entering, by the electronic device, a legacyWi-Fi station mode; receiving, by the electronic device, a request for aWi-Fi peer-to-peer (P2P) connection during the legacy Wi-Fi stationmode; identifying, by the electronic device, a channel used for thelegacy Wi-Fi station mode, in response to the request for the Wi-Fi P2Pconnection during the legacy Wi-Fi station mode; obtaining, by theelectronic device, a Group Owner (GO) right of Wi-Fi P2P, in response tothe request for the Wi-Fi P2P connection during the legacy Wi-Fi stationmode; and after the obtaining of the GO right during the legacy Wi-Fistation mode, entering, by the electronic device, a listen mode on thechannel identified as being used for the legacy Wi-Fi station mode,wherein a listen state is performed without performing a search state inthe listen mode, and wherein the performance of the listen state isrepeated until the Wi-Fi P2P connection is established, while the GOright is maintained during the legacy Wi-Fi station mode.
 22. Anon-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions which, whenexecuted by at least one processor of an electronic device, cause the atleast one processor to perform operations comprising: entering, by theelectronic device, a legacy Wi-Fi station mode; receiving, by theelectronic device, a request for a Wi-Fi peer-to-peer (P2P) connectionduring the legacy Wi-Fi station mode; identifying, by the electronicdevice, a channel used for the legacy Wi-Fi station mode, in response tothe request for the Wi-Fi P2P connection during the legacy Wi-Fi stationmode; obtaining, by the electronic device, a Group Owner (GO) right ofWi-Fi P2P, in response to the request for the Wi-Fi P2P connectionduring the legacy Wi-Fi station mode; and after the obtaining of the GOright during the legacy Wi-Fi station mode, entering, by the electronicdevice, a listen mode on the channel identified as being used for thelegacy Wi-Fi, wherein a first period for performing a listen state and asecond period for a sleep mode are repeatedly provided in the listenmode, and wherein the performance of the listen state and theperformance of the sleep mode are repeated until the Wi-Fi P2Pconnection is established, while the GO right is maintained during thelegacy Wi-Fi station mode.